Rope making machine



May 2, 1933. NEWTON 1,907,118

ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l THOMAS-NEWTON ATTORNiZY J May 2, 1933. I NEWTON 1,907,118

ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 21 as 1 81 33581 is 16 u m 67 7 '19 5 7 5 THOMASHEWTON ATTORNEY May 2, 1933. T NEWTON 1,907,118

ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan.- 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR THOMAS NEWTON ATTORNEY May 2, 1933. T. NEWTON 1,907,118

ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 THOMAS .NEWTOH WEB? 4w ATTORNEY INVENTOIEL May 2, 1933. T. NEWTON 1,907,118

ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR moMAsNEwTOfi 2$." M rna/l AT TORNEY Patented May 2, 1933 untrue STATES Parent orator.

THOMAS NEWTON, OF LAGHUTE MILLS, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO AYERS LIMITED, OE LACHU'IE MILLS, QUEBEC, CANADA I ROPE MAKING MACHINE Application filed January 29, 1932.

This invention relates to rope making making machines and particularly to machines including a main frame mounted to revolve about a central vertical axis and equipped with a plurality of oppositely rein this type of mavolving spool carriers. chine each spool carrier is provided with spool supporting pins arranged in vertically spaced groups, the pins of each group being arranged in a circle concentric with-the axis about which the carrier revolves. When the machine is in operation the threads coming from the lowermost spools of each carrier are drawn upwardly through suitable guiding and tensioning devices positioned to coincide with the central axis of the carrier. Due to the reverse revolution of the frame and carrier these threads are twisted together to form a core around which the threads coming from the remaining groups of spools are twisted in successivelayers to build up a strand of the desired size. The separate strands built up by the spool carriers are drawn through a single sleeve at the top of the main frame and are simultaneously twisted together to form the complete rope. The drawingof the strands through the guiding and tension ing devices of the spool carriers and through the rope forming sleeve of the main frame is usually accomplished by winding drums from whence the rope passes to a. suitable reel where it is wound into a coil of the desired size.

A machine of the above type, as now de signed, operates at a predetermined speed and is capable of producing only one size of rope. lVhen using these machines in a plant producing ropes of various sizes it is, therefore, necessary to install a separate machine for each particular size so that large scale manufacture of different sizes of rope with these machines becomes a very expensive proposition. It has also been observed that ropes made with these machines, while generally superior to ropes made with other machines, are defective in that the component strands will sometimes vary in length due to defective or non-uniform tensioning of the strands during the rope making proc- Serial No. 588,625.

than the remaining. strands and impairs the efficiency of the rope for certain uses.

Some difficulty has also been experienced in connection with the present arrangement of the spool supporting pins. The pins of each carrier are arranged in vertically spaced groups witn the pins of each group projecting upwardly from the supporting ring forming part of the carrier frame. If the pins are perpendicular to the upper surface of the supporting ring'the several rings must spaced a considerable distance apart so that the clearance between the upper end of each pin and the next upper ring is sufficient to provide for removal and replacement of the spools. This Wide spacing of the rings is open to objection on the ground that it materially increases the overall 7 height of the spool carriers and permits the spools to have an undue amount of vertical play on the spool pins. In order to overcome these objections the spool pins carried by each ring are usually inclined outwardly so that the spools may be removed and replaced without interference by the next upper ring. This arrangement, while permitting the rings to be arranged closely together, is dangerous since the spools are frequently thrown off the pins by centrifugal force and cause injury to attendants or adjacent equipment.

With the foregoing in mind the present invention has been developed to rovide a machine of the character describec which is flexible in the sense that the operating speed, tensioning devices and other instrurangement of the spool supporting pins whereby said pins are movable from an up right spool retaining position between the pm supporting rings to an outwardly inclined position permitting placement and removal of the spools to be conveniently accomplished without interference by said rings; and, finally, to provide a generally improved rope making machine or apparatus which is better adapted to perform its required functions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. a

Fig. 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a rope making apparatus constructed in according with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the mainframe and spool carrier assembly and the driving mechanism therefor.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the spool carriers showing the arrangement of the spool pins and other associated elements.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the drum or rope pulling mechanism and its driving mechanism. 7

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the tensioning devices associated with the spool carriers.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5.

' Fig. 7 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the outer cylinder of the tensioning device.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view, in perspective, of the two tensioning blocks associated with the cylinder appearing in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the main frame illustrating the arrangement of the gears driving one of the spool carriers.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the construction appearing in Fig. 10.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 11 designates a main frame mounted to revolve about a central vertical axis represented by the fixed shaft 12. This frame comprises a top member 13, a bottom member 14 and a plurality of connecting tie bolts 15. The members 13 and 14 are in the form of castings, each presenting a central hub 16, a plurality of radial arms 17 and an outer rim 18. The shaft 12 passes through the hubs 16 and has its lower end fixed in a suitable supporting base 19. "The top member 13 is equipped with an elevated bearing in the form of a. sleeve 20 aligned with the shaft 12 and mounted to rotate in a suitable bearing'hracket 21, said sleeve 20 being carried by the upper convergent ends of a. plurality of sup 'torting legs 22 having their lower ends resting on and secured to certain arms 17 of the member 13. The bottom frame member 14 is supported by a ball bearing 23 encircling the lower portion of shaft 12 and is provided with peripheral gear teeth 24 meshing with a gear 25 mounted on a fired shaft 26. Gear 25 is driven by second gear 27 mounted on the lower portion of a vertical shaft 28 having its lower end rotatablv journalled in the base 19.

The no er end of shaft 28 carries a fixed i bevel pinion 29 meshing with a similar pinion 30 fixed to a horizontal shaft 31 which is driven by a motor 31- through belt 32 and pulleys 33 and In the present instance the main frame is shown as equipped with a plurality of vertically disposed spool carriers generally indicated at 35. Each carrier comprises a top disk 36, a bottom disk 37, and a plurality of intermediate rings 38, all of which are secured together in vertically spaced relation by suitable tie bolts 39. Each carrier is rotatably mounted in the main frame by means of the upper and lower shafts appearing at 40 and 41. Shaft 40 extends upwardly through a slot in one of the arms 17 of the top frame-member 13 and rotates in an adjustable bearing member 43. The bearing member is adjustable along the length of the arm 17 and is held in adjusted. positions by bolts passing through additional slots 45 formed in the arm at opposite ends of the shaft receiving slot. Shaft 41 extends downwardly through a similar slot 46 in one of the arms 17 of the lower frame member 14 and is rotatably journalled in a hearing bracket 47 which is adjustable along the lower surface of said arm and is held in adjusted position by bolts 48 passing through slots 49. A gear 50 fixed to the lower end of shaft 41 meshes with an idler gear 51 which, in turn, meshes with a stationary gear 52, said gear 52 being fixed to the shaft 12 to support the ball bearing 23 on which the main frame revolves.

From the foregoing description it. will be apparent that the main frame is revolved in one direction about the shaft 12 by the gear 24, 25 and 27 and that the spool carriers, while travelling with the frame, are simultaneously revolved in the opposite diby the gears 50, 51 and 52.

The bottom disk and rings of each spool carrier are equipped with spool supporting pins 54 positioned between the tie bolts 39. Each pin is provided above its lower end with a fixedly secured hand wheel 55 serving as a supporting base for one of the spools 56 and adapted to rest on the upper surface of the disk or ring when the pin is in its vertical or upright position. That portion of the pin which projects below the hand -wheel 55 passes downwardly through an elongated radial slot- 57 formed in the supporting disk or ring and carries a clamping nut 58 which is held against turning movement by engagement with a correspondingly shaped recess 59 provided immediately below the slot 57. Since the nut 58 is held against turning movement by the wall of the recess 59, it will be apparent that when the pin is in its vertical position operation of the hand wheel to turn the pin in one direction will serve to clamp the nut and hand wheel against the intervening portion of the disk or ring to securely hold the pin in place. The slot 57 is made elongated inorder to permit the pin to be transposed from its upright or vertical position to an outwardly inclined position to facilitate placement and removal of the spools. In this connection it will be noted that the slot is shaped to present an outwardly and upwardly inclined end wall against which the pin rests when tilted to its outwardly inclined position. It will also be noted that the upper outer edge of the disk or ring in which the said slot is formed is bevelled to provide an inclined supporting surface 60 onwhich the hand wheel 55 rests when the pin is in its outwardly in clined position. It will, of course be understood that when the pin is secured in its upright position and it is desired to tilt the same to an outwardly inclined position the hand wheel 55 must be turned in a nut loosening direction in order to provide the clearance necessary to permit tilting of the pin and nut relative to the slot 57 and recess 59. When the spool supporting pins are secured in their upright position, the spools mounted thereon are prevented from leaving the pins by reason of the small clearance intervening between the upper end of each pin and the next upper pin supporting ring. This eliminates any danger of accident due to the spools flying oil the pins during operation of the machine and at the same time the movement of the pins from an upright to an outwardly inclined position provides for convenient removal and placement of the spools when the machine is at rest.

Each spool carrier is also provided with a thread or strand guide 64 for each group of spools. These guides are in the form of vertically disposed sleeves carried by the inner ends of a plurality of arms 65, the outer ends of which are fixed to suitable rods 66 rising from the bottom disk 37. The upper shaft 40 of each spool carrier is also in the form of a hollow guide tube aligned with the guides 64, the lower end of said shaft being projected below the top disk 36 and fitted with a tensioning device 67 the details of which are shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive.

As herein shown each tensioning device includes a cylinder 68 having an enlarged upper end 69 adapted to fit over the lower end of shaft 40 and to be secured thereto in any suitable manner. The body of the cylinder is provided with two diametrically opposed slots 70 in which are fitted a air of opposed strand tensioning blocks 71, the inner opposing surfaces 72 of which are transversely inclined in oppsite directions. Each block is formed with upper and lower laterally projecting ears 7 3 connected to the opposing ears of the companion block by means of bolts 74, each bolt being provided with a wing nut 7 5 and with a spring 76 encircling the bolt between the nut and the outer surface of one of the ears through which the bolt passes, the outer surface of the companion ear being engaged by the bolt head 77. By adjusting the nuts the inward pressure of the blocks 71 may be varied to regulate the tensioning of the strand engaged by the opposing block surfaces 72. In order to prevent independent vertical movement of the blocks 71 within the slots 70, these blocks are provided with interfitting side arms or fingers 78 which also serve to close the sides of the strand receiving passage formed between the strand gripping surfaces 72 of the block.

During operation of the spool carriers the threads coming from the lowermost spools of each carrier are drawn upwardly through the guides 64, friction device 67 and shaft 40 and are simultaneously twisted together to form a core around which the threads coming from the remaining groups of spools are twisted in the form of successive layers as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 3. In this connection it will, of course, be understood that the initial guiding of the spool threads through-the guides and tensioning devices of the spool carrier and through the rope forming sleeve 20' of the main frame as well as the initial attachment of these threads to the winding drums and reeling mechanism is accomplished in accordance with the current practice followed in ating machines of this type.

During its passage through the tensioning device 67 the strand 81 formed by each spool carrier is tensioned by the tensioning blocks 71, the effective pressure of which is regulated with reference to the pull of the winding drums so as to impose the maximum tension which the strand is capable of withstanding without breakage. After passing through the tensioning devices 67 and the shafts 40 the several strands 81 converge towards the center of the main frame 11 and are, drawn through a rope forming bushing 82 mounted in the sleeve 20. -As the strands are drawn through this bushing they are twisted together to form the complete rope as indicated at 83.

After leaving the rope forming bushing 82 the rope 83 passes over suitable pulleys 84 to a rope pulling drum mechanism comprising an upper idler drum 85 and a lower power driven drum 86, said drums being operfixed to shafts 87 and 88 journalled in a suitable frame 89. The lower shaft 88 is equipped with a worm wheel 90 engaging a driving worm 91 on the worm shaft 92 which is mounted in suitable'bearings carried by the frame 89. The worm shaft 92 is provided at one end with a gear 93 driven by an idler gear 94 which, in turn, is driven by a gear 95 fixed to one end of the previously mentioned motor driven shaft 3].. The drums 85 and 86 are formed with single width rope receiving grooves 97, the drum 86 being also provided with two or more double width grooves 98. The rope is trained around the drums so that the grooves 98 are occupied by a plurality of turns of rope as compared with the single turns oc cupying the grooves 97. This arrangement is of advantage in that it enables the power driven drum to exert a strong pull on the rope with a minimum amount ,of slippage. By adjusting the tensioning devices 67 to resist the pull of the drums 85 and 86 to the maximum extent permissible without causing breakage of the rope strands the tensioning of the strands may be regulated to produce a rope in which the component strands are of exactly equal lengti and have minimum stretch. From the winding drums 85 and 86 therope passes over a pulley 99 to any suitable coil forming reel (not shown).

The apparatus described herein may be adjusted to produce ropes of different sizes. The changes involved consist in (1) replacing tile rope forming bushing 82 with a bushing of a different size dependent upon the size of the rope to be produced (2) varying the speed or timing of the spool carriers and varying the speed of the power driven pulling drum 86 in accordance with the variation made in the speed of the spool carriers. 1

The speed of each spool carrier may be conveniently varied by removing the gear 50 and substituting a similar gear of a different size selected with reference to the size of the rope to be produced. This substitution requires a change in the positioning of the gears 50 and 51 with respect to each other and ith respect to the gear vide for proper meshing of the three gears following a change in the size of thetiming gear 50. The necessary change in the positioning of the gear 50 is provided for by adjustment of the bearing brackets a3 and 47 to vary the distance between the cer of the main shaft 12 and thespool carrier shaft 41. The center of the idl gear'fj'l is also changed with reference to the cent-ins of the gears 50 and 52 whenever the size of the gear 50 is changed. To 51 is rotatably mounted on the loner end of an eccentric shaft 101 which is turnable to various positions of adjustment within a tuthis end gear 52 so as to pro-' bular bearing 102 forming part of the hearing bracket 4L7. At its upper end the shaft 101 is provided with an enlarged head 103 seated in a supporting recess 10st. After the eccentric shaft 101 has been turned to effect the desired adjustment of the gear 51 with reference to gears 50 and 52 it is secured in place by a set screw 105. The change in the speed of the power driven drum 86 is accomplished by removing one or both of the gears 93 and 95 and substituting similar gears of different sizes. This substitution makes it necessary to shift the center of the idler gear 94 with respect to the centers of the shafts 92 and 3-1 and while this may be accomplished in various ways the present description will be confined to the example shown in the present drawings. In this instance the gear 94 is carried by a shaft 106 adapted to be secured in different positions along the length of the longitudinally extending slot'107 formed in a lever 108. One end of the lever is secured to the frame by a pivot 109 about which the lever is adapted tobe swung in a vertical plane, said lever being secured in aidjusted position by a fastening bolt 110 which is shiftable along an arcuate slot 111 formed in the frame 89 concentric with the pivot 109.

Having thus fully described what I now conceive to be the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described .my invention what I claim is 7 1. A rope making machine of the character described including a main frame having a central axis of revolution, a plurality of radially adjustable spool carriers mounted to travel with said frame, each carrier having an'independent central axis of revolution, and a driving mechanism functioning to revolve the frame and carriers in opposite direction, said driving mechanism comprising means for rotating the main frame, a stationary gear centered with respect to the vertical axis of the main frame, a series of adjustably mounted idler gears meshing with said stationary gear, and a timing gear fixed to each of said spool carriers and meshing ith one of said idler gears, said stationary and timing gears being replaceable by similar gears of different sizes to alter the speed of the carriers with respect to the speed of tne frame, and said idler gears being adjustable to compensate for alterations in the size of said stationary and timing gears. r v

2. A rope making machine of the character described including a main frame mounted to revolve about a central vertical axis and equipped with a ring gear at its lower end, a driving gear in mesh with said ring gear, a stationary gear positioned below said ring gear, said stationary gear being centered with respect to the vertical axis of said frame, a plurality of spool carriers mounted to travel with said frame, each carrier having an independent vertical axis of revolution, a timing gear fixed to rotate with each of said carriers, and suitable idler gears meshing with said stationary gear and with said timing gears to cause each carrier to revolve about its own axis in a direction opposite to the direction in which the main frame is revolved, each of said idler gears being carried by an eccentric shaft which is turnable to shift the centre of the idler gear according to the size of the stationary and timing gears with which the idler gear is intended to mesh.

3. A machine of the character described including a spool carrier equipped with vertically spaced groups of thread carrymg spools, the spools of each group being arranged in circular series around the central axis of the carrier, a plurality of centrally located guides through which the threads coming from the spools of the different groups are guided upwardly along the central axis of the carrier, and a thread tensioning device positioned above he uppermost guide, said tensionlng device comprlsing a cylinder open at its upper andlower ends, a pair of tensioning blocks slidably mounted in diametrically opposed slots formed in the wall of the cylinder and adapted to grip the threads passing therebetween, and means for yieldingly pressing the blocks together to tension the threads.

4. In arope making machine of the character described, a thread or strand tens 1oning device comprising a cylinder provided with diametrically opposed slots, blocks slidably mounted in said slots to prov1de opposing thread or strand gripp ng surfaces, and yielding means for exerting pres sure on the blocks to force the same inwardly with reference to the cylinder.

5. A rope making machme of the character described comprising a main frame including top and bottom members connected together and mounted to revolve about a central vertical axis, a plurality of vertically disposed spool carriers associated with said frame, each carrier having upper and lower shaft members rotatably ournalled in radially adjustable bearings carried by the top and bottom members of the main frame, a stationary gear centered with respect to the vertical axis of the main frame, a timing gear fixed to rotate with each of said carriers, and an a-Cljustably mounted idler gear interposed between the stationary gear and each of said timing gears.

6. A rope making machine including a main frame comprising top and bottom members connected together and mounted to revolve about a central vertical axis, a plurality of vertically disposed spool carriers associated with the main frame, each spool carrier having upper and lower shaft members, upper and lower radially adjustable bearings for said shaft members carried, respectively, by the top and bottom members of the mam frame, a stationary gear positioned below the bottom member of the main frame and centered with respect to the axis about which said frame revolves, idler gears meshing with said stationary gear and adjustably carried by the radially adjustable bearing members in which the lower shaft members of the spool carriers,

are journalled, and timing gears carried by the lower shaft members of the spool car riers and meshing with said idler gears.

7. A rope making machine including a main frame having a central vertical axis of revolution and equipped with a plurality of rotatably mounted spool carrier's, each carrier comprising top and bottom members having shaft extensions journalled 1n the mam frame, a series of vertically spaced rings positioned between said top and bot tom members and connected therewith, and a series of spool holding pinscarriedby the bottom member of each spool carrier and by each of said rings, said pins being movable from an upright position to an outwardly lnclined position to facilitate removal and replacement of the spools adapted to be. 211'- ranged thereon. V

8. In a rope making machine of the character described, the combination with a main frame having a central vertical axis of revolution of a plurality of spool carriers rotatably journalled in said frame, each carrier comprising a series of vertically spaced members between which the spools are adapted to be positioned and a series of spool supporting pins carried by each of said members with the exception of the top mem-- ber, each pin having its lower end projecting downwardly through an elongated slot formed in the member with which it is associated and being provided with releasable clamping members whereby said pin may be secured in an upright position or may be tilted to an outwardly inclined position.

9. A rope making machine of the character described including a rotatably mounted main frame and a plurality of rotatably mounted spool carriers associated therewith, each carrier including a series of vertically spac'ed ring-shaped members having radially extending slots formed therein, a series of spool supporting pins associated with each ring-shaped member and. having their lower ends extending downwardly through the slots in said member, said slots being Y tion and said pins being equipped with clamping members adapted to be engaged with the upper and lower surfaces of the associated supporting member to secure the pins in their upright positions.

10. A rope making machine including a main frame comprising top and bottom members connected together and mounted to revolve about a central vertical axis, a plufi rality of spool carriers rotatably mounted in said frame, each carrier comprising top and bottom members having central shaft extensions rotatably mounted in the top and bottom members of the main frame, the shaft extension of the top member of the carrier being in the form of an open ended tube having its lower end projecting downward- 1y below said top member, each carrier being also equipped with vertically spaced 0 groups of thread carrying spools arranged in circular series around the central axis of the carrier and With a plurality of centrally located guides through which the threads .coming from the spools of the diiferent groups are guided upwardly along the cen tral axis of the carrier, and a thread tensioning device positioned above the uppermost guide of each carrier, said tensioning device comprising an open ended cylinder having its upper end secured to the lower end of the upper tubular shaft extension of the carrier, a pair of tensioning blocks slidably mounted in diametrically opposed slots it formed in the wall of the cylinder and means for yieldingly pressing the blocks together to tension the threads which are passed outwardly from the carrier through said tensioning device and through the upper tubuwlar shaft extension of the carrier.

'40" In witness whereof, Ihave hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS NEWTON. 

